Date: Mon, 4 Dec 1995 23:45:46 -0500
From: Jesse T Sheidlower
Subject: Re: Bubblehead
>
> I'll support Laurie Bowman's recollection of "bubblehead" = "airhead".
> Memory is one of the advantages (or disadvantages) of long experience: the
> term arose in the early 60s (when I first experienced it at UT-Austin, though
> it may have started earlier while I was out out the country) for the young
> college females, mostly sorority types still following the genderized pursuit
> of an MRS. degree.....
The Random House Historical Dictionary of American Slang cites
_bubblehead_ from 1952 on.
Actually, sorry, that's not quite right. _Bubble-headed_ from 1952
on, _bubblehead_ from 1959; we combine them in the same entry.
Jesse Sheidlower
Random House Reference